Lockdown: They told us to stay home – then went out. The political figures who broke the rules

Boris Johnson’s top adviser Dominic Cummings is not the only high-profile figure to have been caught breaching the UK’s lockdown restrictions.

Mr Cummings was spotted in Durham in March, more than 260 miles from where he lives in London – and after the prime minister instructed people they must stay at home.

Here are some of the others who have been in the spotlight for flouting the rules.

Professor Neil Ferguson

Professor Neil Ferguson resigned from the government’s scientific advisory group (SAGE) earlier this month after he broke coronavirus lockdown rules.

In a statement announcing his departure, the leading epidemiologist from Imperial College London said he had made an error of judgement.

It followed claims in The Daily Telegraph that he allowed a friend, reported to be his lover, Antonia Staats, to visit him at home – in breach of official rules he contributed to devising.

Catherine Calderwood

Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwoodresigned after breaching the UK lockdown by visiting her second home.

Dr Calderwood – who has been a leading voice in urging the public to obey the restrictions – was photographed by The Scottish Sun visiting her holiday home on the east coast of the country, in early April.

She admitted it was the second time she had done so during the lockdown.

Robert Jenrick

Downing Street last month backed Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, who travelled 150 miles from London to a property he owns in rural Herefordshire.

Days after chairing a government news conference in Westminster to reinforce the stay at home message, Mr Jenrick appeared on Sky News via video link from the seventeenth century manor house he owns in the hamlet of Eye.

This is despite the Nottinghamshire MP’s website stating his family live 120 miles away in his constituency of Newark, as well as in London.

But the PM’s official spokesman said the minister had set out his reasons for the journey and we’re confident he complied with the social distancing rules, adding Mr Jenrick, his wife and children consider their Herefordshire residence to be their family home.

Stephen Kinnock

Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon in South Wales, was shamed by police on social media.

He posted a photo on Twitter after travelling to London to visit his father on his birthday on 28 March – five days after the lockdown came into force.

They were social distancing, but South Wales Police responded: We know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with (lockdown) restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you.

Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage claimed he was visited by police earlier this month and was warned against breaching lockdown rules after he travelled to the English coast to report on the migrant crisis.

The Brexit Party leader said officers had knocked on his door following complaints that he had defied stay-at-home orders by visiting Dover, and Pett Level Beach in East Sussex.

He condemned the police visit to his home on 4 May as lockdown lunacy and days later hand-delivered a letter of complaint to Kent Police.

Other high-profile figures

It is not just politicians who have found themselves in hot water over social distancing breaches.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney was reportedly told off by police when he was spotted enjoying an early evening stroll in Cheshire with his neighbour, Manchester City and England full-back Kyle Walker, in early April.

The Sun reported the pair were out with their families when they bumped into each other at Prestbury golf course.

It came after Walker, only days earlier, was forced to apologise for hosting a gathering at his home. He admitted breaking social distancing rules again weeks later after he visited his home city of Sheffield to see family.